Apple Watch 2 sooner than you think?

[Mad Mac Maniac]

So there has been a lot of speculation since the launch of the Apple Watch about what the update cycle will be. Many have speculated that it will be longer than the typical 1 year cycle for most of Apple's product line, and be more in line with like the Apple TV and be 2-3 years. The rationale being summed up in 2 arguments.
1) How can Apple make people spend $15,000 on a watch and then come out with a new one just a year later?!
2) The watch won't need frequent updates because it doesn't need processing power. The processing can be offloaded to the iPhone.
3) What else could they add

And to those arguments I say
1) Yeah ok... why would Apple care about that?
2) I think we can all agree that using processing power on the iPhone sucks. Native apps with wOS2.0 will certainly be the future.
3) Seriously? Better battery. Better/more efficient processer. GPS. Additional (more reliable) health sensors. There is so much in this space.

Needless to say I'm in the "yearly upgrade" camp. However... Could we be seeing an Apple Watch 2 this year (Sept/Oct)?? Follow me on this. Here are my thoughts/reasons.
1) The rumor was that the Apple Watch was supposed to be released last fall. Supposedly the software was the holdup on the watch's release. The hardware appeared to be ready (or at least pretty darn close) at annoucement on 9 September. If Apple started Watch 2 development around that time then Sept/Oct would coincide with a yearly release cycle.
2) It would be perfect to coincide with wOS2/iOS9. iOS device launches almost always coincide with a major OS release (yes, I know there are exceptions, hence the "almost"). Plus with the native apps it would probably be pretty handy to get a) more processing power and b) more storage for all these apps.
3) Holiday season. Nuff said. Apple would probably want to make the watch shiny new for the holidays.

Thoughts?

 

[foxkoneko]

anyone who thinks apple will not have a yearly cycle for this is delusional
It wouldn't be far off to expect a mid year silent update for stuff like battery / small processor bump

 

[jbachandouris]

anyone who thinks apple will not have a yearly cycle for this is delusional
It wouldn't be far off to expect a mid year silent update for stuff like battery / small processor bump

And yet there are more than likely an equal number of people who think yearly upgrades are delusional.

I see no reason for us to argue about things we know nothing about.

 

[fanta88]

I agree that it will be a yearly cycle, and expect significant improvements in the Watch 2.

I don't think a new one will be out in Sep/Oct. They are already releasing the phone, and quite possibly a refresh of the ipad. They clearly want to keep pushing iphone sales and reinvigorate the slumping tablet market. Announcing a new watch would draw too much attention away. I think their primary focus right now should be to simply get the watch into more people's hands.

As far as silent update stuff, I guess that's possible, although I doubt minor changes to battery capacity/processor speed would make any significant difference.

 

[Bromeo]

I'll put my hat in for additional straps (already happening with XL sizes) and perhaps new case materials (tungsten? titanium? platinum?). Undoubtedly Apple Watch 2 is currently in the design lab, but when it will be ready is another question. I can see them keeping the case and specifically the band attachments the same, but perhaps improving internal hardware in a year or two.

One can look at the evolution of the iPod or the iPhone for ideas how Apple incrementally improves its tech... one step at a time, until five generations down it's an amazing cumulative change.

 

[robertpetry]

Q2 I think. Still not available globally.

 

[BlueMoon63]

So there has been a lot of speculation since the launch of the Apple Watch about what the update cycle will be. Many have speculated that it will be longer than the typical 1 year cycle for most of Apple's product line, and be more in line with like the Apple TV and be 2-3 years. The rationale being summed up in 2 arguments.
1) How can Apple make people spend $15,000 on a watch and then come out with a new one just a year later?!
2) The watch won't need frequent updates because it doesn't need processing power. The processing can be offloaded to the iPhone.
3) What else could they add

And to those arguments I say
1) Yeah ok... why would Apple care about that?
2) I think we can all agree that using processing power on the iPhone sucks. Native apps with wOS2.0 will certainly be the future.
3) Seriously? Better battery. Better/more efficient processer. GPS. Additional (more reliable) health sensors. There is so much in this space.

Needless to say I'm in the "yearly upgrade" camp. However... Could we be seeing an Apple Watch 2 this year (Sept/Oct)?? Follow me on this. Here are my thoughts/reasons.
1) The rumor was that the Apple Watch was supposed to be released last fall. Supposedly the software was the holdup on the watch's release. The hardware appeared to be ready (or at least pretty darn close) at annoucement on 9 September. If Apple started Watch 2 development around that time then Sept/Oct would coincide with a yearly release cycle.
2) It would be perfect to coincide with wOS2/iOS9. iOS device launches almost always coincide with a major OS release (yes, I know there are exceptions, hence the "almost"). Plus with the native apps it would probably be pretty handy to get a) more processing power and b) more storage for all these apps.
3) Holiday season. Nuff said. Apple would probably want to make the watch shiny new for the holidays.

Thoughts?

No way Apple releases a new watch next month or the next. Maybe next summer or fall would be my guess. And that's all it is... A guess.

 

[Recognition]

The rationale being summed up in 2 arguments.
1) How can Apple make people spend $15,000 on a watch and then come out with a new one just a year later?!
2) The watch won't need frequent updates because it doesn't need processing power. The processing can be offloaded to the iPhone.
3) What else could they add

Pretty sure that's 3 arguments...
Can't take you seriously now

 

[Gregintosh]

No chance of a fall update. Some countries just got this one and some retailers are about to get it. Apple isn't going to refresh a product one to two months after availability.

I think it will be yearly. Maybe off by a little bit in either direction, like 10 months or 14 months or so.

 

[mcdj]

Pissing off the many high profile buyers of the Edition, (notably the celebs/models/musicians, whom Apple are dependent on in so many ways) by releasing a new model so quickly, would be a PR disaster. We've already seen what Taylor Swift can do...

Sure, there were plenty of celebrities who received free Editions, but many others paid for them, to keep up with the A-listers. The backlash from those people would be thunderous.

 

[lagwagon]

Absolutely no way whatsoever will there be Apple Watch 2 this September/October. That is only 5/6 months after release of a brand new device in a brand new area for Apple. It's already kinda ridiculous that watchOS 2 is coming (in only 5 months after release) when it should have just been watchOS 1.1.

Also the hold up on the watch being pushed back from fall 2014 to spring 2015 was the battery life, not the OS (software).

I could see Apple bringing out Apple Watch S in the spring (1 year from initial release) or maybe pushing it to fall and having it one and a half years from initial release to bring it out in line with iPhones release dates. (Since they are kinda connected.)

 

[Enygmatic]

Here's why I don't think there will be an annual update cycle for the Watch: it's not a standalone device, and never will be. You can't compare it to iPhones and iPads, because it was never meant to carry its own weight.

There will be upgraded versions, likely thinner (you can see by the strap lug area that they have room to work with, while allowing compatibility with current bands), and more robust internals - storage and battery advancements being key. Different materials, possibly. FT camera (unnecessary, but thrown in because someone at Apple saw Batman Forever or Star Trek or something) Maybe new sensors, though there's only so much you can accurately glean from the wrist. Rumors are that there are untapped sensors on the current Watch, awaiting federal approval before they're implemented. Possibly new ones to better track movement and exercise. Sounds like a significant improvement, but it could be awhile before they can get all of that working how they want it, in such a tiny space - and then mass produced with top QC and ready to be shipped globally.

Even with the app logic being moved over to the watch, most of the heavy lifting will likely still be done by the phone. I think you'll upgrade your phone once or twice before you're compelled to upgrade watches - it's a satellite device. It's why the Watch doesn't have its own GPS; they could've put that in this one, but it's a battery killer, and unnecessary.

Most of the huge gains over the next year or so will be software-based. Those will be huge. As big of news that native apps is, remember that that's just a software tweak. New watch faces, sensor activations/calibrations, and the creativity of developers - watchOS will play the key role there. Remember, that's supposed to be one of the benefits to having smart devices as well. It's also one of Apple's strengths, and key differentiators from competitors.

Apple Watch 2 will likely gain serious traction around the Fall, 2017. Just a guess.

 

[Rogifan]

Why do people keep taking about a thinner watch? Do people that wear high end mechanical watches 'upgrade' them to something thinner? Is Watch thicker than a high end watch?

 

[Newtons Apple]

I am not even sure I will be wearing my watch after a year. While I like it very much there is a lot of stuff heading our way and this thing is not stuck on my wrist. The very soonest Aplle would deliver another new watch would be a year. Depending on sales, it could be longer than that.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Pissing off the many high profile buyers of the Edition, (notably the celebs/models/musicians, whom Apple are dependent on in so many ways) by releasing a new model so quickly, would be a PR disaster. We've already seen what Taylor Swift can do...

Sure, there were plenty of celebrities who received free Editions, but many others paid for them, to keep up with the A-listers. The backlash from those people would be thunderous.

Not that I think they'll release a v2 in the fall, but you're underestimating those customers. They can easily afford several Editons a year if they wanted to.

 

[Enygmatic]

Why do people keep taking about a thinner watch? Do people that wear high end mechanical watches 'upgrade' them to something thinner? Is Watch thicker than a high end watch?

Because that's Apple's m/o... personally, I'm fine with the size.

 

[OllyW]

Why do people keep taking about a thinner watch? Do people that wear high end mechanical watches 'upgrade' them to something thinner? Is Watch thicker than a high end watch?

Because it's been drummed into them by Apple's obsession of making things thinner so it's only natural they will expect the watch to be slimmed down when it gets updated.

The Apple Watch is no thicker than the average automatic mechanical watch so the thickness won't bother people used to wearing them. Quartz watches are usually thinner though so it's going to seem bulky if you normally wear a quartz.

 

[Enygmatic]

Not that I think they'll release a v2 in the fall, but you're underestimating those customers. They can easily afford several Editons a year if they wanted to.

Not to mention, it's likely many/most/all of those celebs you've seen sporting them at events and photo ops were given them by Apple. No investment on their part...

 

[kevinjohnson20]

I already knew this thing because the success which they received from Apple-1 watch is inspired them to make and create a new and advance feature of it so what we can do?? Just wait until it's not be launched.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Not to mention, it's likely many/most/all of those celebs you've seen sporting them at events and photo ops were given them by Apple. No investment on their part...

Pretty sure he was referring to customers who actually paid for the Edition, but my point is they can afford several Editions a year if they wanted to. $10-17K is chump change to them.

I don't think they're relevant at all anyway. Even buyers of the $350 Sport model would likely get more pissed than Edition owners if a v2 is released this fall (which won't happen anyway).

We may still get new bands or a new color combo (yellow or rose gold colored anodized Sport models) in the fall if rumors are to be believed, but they don't constitute a v2.

 

[Enygmatic]

Pretty sure he was referring to customers who actually paid for the Edition, but my point is they can afford several Editions a year if they wanted to. $10-17K is chump change to them.

I don't think they're relevant at all anyway. Even buyers of the $350 Sport model would likely get more pissed than Edition owners if a v2 is released this fall (which won't happen anyway).

We may still get new bands or a new color combo (yellow or rose gold colored anodized Sport models) in the fall if rumors are to be believed, but they don't constitute a v2.

Pretty sure that's not definite, but anyway... I agree - with the watches still not even available in some places, people are being silly when it comes to this thing. Or spoiled, or entitled, or whatever you want to call it.

 

[maflynn]

I don't see apple rolling out a new watch so soon, this would represent a failure of the original watch and they definitely don't want to imply that. Also not much as changed in technology these past few months to increase battery life, or improve performance.

 

[MrGimper]

No new hardware for a couple of years in my view. All the magic will happen in software for the immediate future. And if I'm honest, I think the only thing that's missing from this watch is a stand-alone GPS. Everything else is awesome.

 

[zmunkz]

I used to think they would not do a yearly cycle because of reason #1 you mentioned... But I no longer think so.

It does seem silly to throttle their development just because some people actually bought the first version. They have to worry about new customers more than upgraders, and there really is no reason for someone to be upset that a new version of tech came out. What else can they expect?

15K watches from other brands last 30+ years, whereas this watch was only ever going to last 2-4 before becoming senselessly obsolete, so considering that, 1 year vs 2 year updates doesn't really change anything.

 

[Simon89]

Surely they will go with tradition and release the 'Apple Watch S'